James Dyke
@jamesgdyke.info
Earth systems prof & assistant director of @gsiexeter.bsky.social | Technosphere Earth newsletter https://www.technosphere.earth
Won't this blow up the UK's climate change targets? Don't worry - government's don't include aviation in their climate change targets! www.gov.uk/government/p...
The Guardian@theguardian.com · yesterdayGatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails
Direct, full-time jobs opening Rosebank oilfield would create: 450 D, f-t jobs opening Jackdaw gasfield would create: 27 D, f-t jobs in UK's net-zero economy: 300,000 + 400,000 more on the way D, f-t jobs in the rest of the green economy: 600,000 Is that really the hill Burnham wants to die on?
The Lovelock Papers: Shell’s Hidden Climate Knowledge Under Scrutiny as Court Battle Looms. Ahead of a landmark climate lawsuit, confidential documents show how British scientist James Lovelock warned executives of the risks of burning fossil fuels in the 1960s. www.desmog.com/2026/07/29/t...
The Lovelock Papers: Shell’s Hidden Climate Knowledge Under Scrutiny as Court Battle Looms
“What seems to be important,” wrote the visionary British scientist, James Lovelock, in June 1966, is “the almost certain fact that the climate is worsening and the probability that the combustion of ...
desmog.com
Excellent long-form interview about AI. With Jon Stewart and @doctorow.pluralistic.net the writer and activist who coined the term "enshittification"—the process by which digital platforms gradually become worse for users as they prioritize profits and business interests. youtu.be/-dAIJRjb-Bw
AI and the Enshittification Era w/ Cory Doctorow | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
YouTube video by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
youtu.be
‘Immediately stop all outdoor activities’: South Korea records its highest ever temperature - 42.5C #climatecrisis www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
‘Stop all outdoor activities’: South Korea records its highest ever temperature
Authorities issue alert saying indoor spaces without airconditioning are ‘dangerous’ as temperatures pass 40C for fifth straight day
theguardian.com
The government has effectively outsourced HE policy to consultants, including Nous, KPMG and others. At Exeter it’s Nous www.theferret.scot/consultancy-...
‘Nousferatu’: the notorious consultancy advising Edinburgh uni amid 'huge' cuts
Scotland’s largest university has turned to Nous Group at the same time as it is making savings that could lead to nearly 2,000 job losses. Staff say they were misled about the extent of its work.
theferret.scot
Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Norwegian PM who defined 'sustainable development' in 1987, led the country through its oil boom. In May 2026 Norway 🇳🇴 opened 70 new exploration blocks, 38 in the Arctic Barents Sea. It plans to keep producing for decades, even as the planet burns 🔥
Dr. Aaron Thierry@thierryaaron.bsky.social · 3d agoSince 1989, the CO₂ from #Norway 🇳🇴 oil has outweighed everything the country has emitted at home in its entire history. Now at 13.8 Gt from the crude, against 2.8 Gt of national emissions since 1751. Counting gas too, it is 20 Gt.
“The question is not whether #ClimateChange caused the heatwave, but how much hotter and more dangerous heatwaves have become because of GHGs, primarily from burning fossil fuels.” “The missing words in the climate conversation are not human-caused climate change, but fossil fuel emissions.”
‘Was this heatwave caused by climate change?’ – we’re asking the wrong question
Instead of asking whether climate change caused a heatwave, we should ask how much hotter it became because of fossil fuel emissions.
theconversation.com
Neoclassical econ assumes rationality. The corollary of, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?" is "you're rich, so you must be very smart!" Thus, people assume that if powerful, well-compensated CEOs insist that "AI is changing everything," well then, *AI must be changing everything*. 1/
1/ @mjflepage.bsky.social argues in @newscientist.com that more North Sea drilling doesn't matter for the #climate, because what counts is how much we burn. He's usually excellent as a climate writer and I found the piece a real let-down. A thread on why. 🧵
One rule for thee, and another for me? We are told the University of Exeter is at risk because of falling income, but management salaries & consultancy costs have risen markedly. What's going on? democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...
Inside Britain's university crisis
As teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter
democracyforsale.substack.com
Bordeaux, France, has now recorded more days above 40°C in 2026 alone than during the entire 105-year period from 1920 (when observations began) to 2025. This is deeply shocking.
ANTI-GENOCIDE SUPPORTERS ARRESTED AT WESTMINSTER MAGISTRATES COURT. The Met arrested over 50 people yesterday in London, under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, as well as others who were setting up a small stage and reading poems as part of the planned event. x.com/DefendOurJur...
Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) on X
BREAKING: ANTI-GENOCIDE SUPPORTERS ARRESTED AT WESTMINSTER MAGISTRATES COURT. The Met have begun arresting people under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, as well as others who were setting up a small...
x.com
On 31 July 1941 Hermann Goering authorised SS General Reinhard Heydrich to commence preparations for the implementation of the Nazis' planned 'complete solution to the Jewish question'. This followed the Wansee Conference in which plans were made by leading Nazis to exterminate Europe's Jews...
Human-induced climate change made the extreme fire weather that fuelled the recent destructive wildfires at least twice as likely in France and at least 20 times more likely in Spain, according to our new study.
#GlobalHeating greatly increases #wildfire risk. That‘s been established scientifically for a long time (see IPCC reports) but has now been shown again for the current fires 🔥 in France and Spain in a new World Weather Attribution study. www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
Climate change increases likelihood of compounding drivers of severe wildfire conditions in France and Spain – World Weather Attribution
worldweatherattribution.org
Following on the heels of the massive proposed gas-powered data center complex in Ohio led by OpenAI with backing from Nvidia, Anthropic moving forward with its own massive gas-powered data center complex in Texas with backing from Google. [gift link]
Exclusive | Banks in Talks to Lend $15 Billion for Anthropic Data Center Backed by Google
Google’s guarantees of power and lease obligations would help the developer secure financing for the 1.6-gigawatt Texas project.
wsj.com
Yes, and what has been driving the very hot weather in the UK, Europe and elsewhere...? www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Suffolk wildfires: What caused them to take hold?
Parts of East Anglia around Suffolk have experienced an extended period of dry weather creating the conditions for wildfires.
bbc.co.uk
This is their plan. This has always been their plan. Perhaps by the end of this year we will see them argue why climate change means we need stronger borders.
John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺@thinkorswim.bsky.social · 7d agoIt’s exhausting. For years, decades, right wing media have lied and told us #climate breakdown was just woke nonsense. Now, it’s whoopsies, yes it’s real, but relax everyone & enjoy our new “Mediterranean” climate as Europe goes up in flames around us.
Must read article, this quote in particular resonated with me: “Does the institution truly not realise that only our passion and goodwill have kept the ship afloat”. So much that an academic does is not in the job description. What has happened to U.K. higher education is so sad.
James Dyke@jamesgdyke.info · last wk.While the University of Exeter redundancy disaster staggers forward, a reminder that this is not about numbers in spreadsheets but people's lives. lizzywilliamson.substack.com/p/on-redunda...
While the University of Exeter redundancy disaster staggers forward, a reminder that this is not about numbers in spreadsheets but people's lives. lizzywilliamson.substack.com/p/on-redunda...
On Redundancy
Four weeks ago, the university that I have been working at for 9 years announced massive, unjustified, reckless job cuts, predominantly targeting the humanities, arts and social sciences.
lizzywilliamson.substack.com
"The debt is now here for us all. We knew it would come." A quietly devastating long read that brought up waves of grief I keep stuffed down Nevertheless, hopeful because it is truthful and clarifying Thank you, Patrick Galey 🙏
Patrick Galey@patrickgaley.bsky.social · last wk.With the great burning upon us, I wrote about what it means to raise the next generation, the one who will not let us be their teachers. I hope it hits with some people. medium.com/@patchgaley/...
"As Mayor of Greater Manchester, you oversaw the declaration of a #ClimateEmergency & argued that local government lacked many of the powers necessary to deliver the pace of change demanded by the climate challenge. As Prime Minister, those powers now rest with you"
Kevin Anderson@kevinclimate.bsky.social · last wk.Open letter to the PM on Rosebank & Jackdaw oil and gas fields, covered in the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/... Full letter here: climateuncensored.com/letter-to-th...
After The Economist’s interview with Elon Musk, will major media finally reassess how they cover the fascist billionaire? As its editor-in-chief did the rounds saying she was “not a Musk hater,” he was on X calling her a traitor to the West and suggesting she be murdered. Please, have some dignity.
Elon Musk’s tired schtick
Why does the media keep debasing itself for a man who despises them?
disconnect.blog
My good friend @peteknapp.bsky.social made an excellent film about how Europe can respond to the increasing threat from #wildfire It highlights the importance of community grassroots action focussed on resilience & solidarity #incendie #feu #bordeaux #gironde #Madrid #fuego #incendios
Dr Pete Knapp@peteknapp.bsky.social · 2w agoMy film ‘Fires and Fascism’ is now in French. Please contact me to arrange a screening in France: fires-and-fascism.co.uk#contact @greenpeace.fr @biofuelwatch.bsky.social @climatenews.bsky.social @amnestyfrance.bsky.social @lessoulevements.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oh no! And we lost Bill Oddie recently too.
The Irish Times@irishtimes.com · last wk.Ronnie Le Drew: Zippy puppeteer dies aged 78
Glorious (& ultimately quite positive review) of Nolan's The Odyssey by Emily Wilson: "The writing is abysmal. None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible." www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Emily Wilson · An Uncomplicated Man
As they say at the awards shows, I was humbled to learn that Christopher Nolan has read at least the first line of my...
lrb.co.uk
If you haven't already signed, then please do. There is a small window of opportunity to stop the disastrous plan to cut up to 200 academic jobs in Exeter (most - but not all - in humanities & social sciences). www.change.org/p/stop-redun...
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
change.org